Man Sentenced to 264 Months in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On July 28, 2026, United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado sentenced Luis Rolando Rivera Cruz to 264 months (22 years) in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for child exploitation. Rivera Cruz was indicted on January 16, 2025, arrested on January 29, 2025, and pleaded guilty on December 16, 2025. According to court documents, from May to July 2024, Luis Rolando Rivera Cruz, 54 years old, used a cellular phone, as well as internet instant messaging services, to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a 14-year-old female minor, to engage in sexual activity. Moreover, the defendant transferred obscene material to the minor. “Exploiting children is a heinous crime that inflicts profound and lasting harm. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in protecting the most vulnerable and ensuring that those who prey on minors are brought to justice. We will continue to pursue these offenders with unwavering commitment and hold them fully accountable under the law,” said Héctor Ramírez Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “Child exploitation is not limited to producing images. This 264-month sentence reflects the severity of these crimes and sends a clear message: When a predator begins to deceive, manipulate, or entice a minor through social media or digital platforms, they are already committing an extremely serious crime. HSI San Juan remains vigilant and relentless in identifying, investigating, and bringing to justice those who seek to exploit children. Our priority is to protect minors and hold these predators accountable for their actions,” said HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos. The Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Álvarez Lora from the Exploitation and Immigration Unit prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###